It was not only a big neighborhood rivalry showdown when the Langley Saxons and McLean Highlanders met in girls high-school softball the night of April 5, the contest also pitted top teams in the Liberty District this spring.
Langley took a 1-0 third-inning lead, but McLean rallied to win, 5-1, to improve to 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the district.
The Saxons, who won their first six games, fell to 6-2, 1-1 as they had six hits and were hurt by three errors in the loss.
Hailey Simpson hurled a complete game to get the win for McLean. She struck out seven and walked three. The Highlanders made no errors.
McLean took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run homer by Gennie Fagan, who also singled in the win. Later, Abby Hart had an RBI double and Riley Staats a run-scoring single. Hart had two hits.
For Langley, Charlotte Loving had two hits, one a double, Claire Kim had two hits, Caitlin Hohenthander had a hit and an RBI and Lauren Kim had a hit.
Noah Jacques was the starting pitcher. She walked five and fanned eight.
McLean, the defending Class 6 public-school state champion has two district games this week, then hosts defending Division I private-school state champ and undefeated Bishop O'Connell (7-0) at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15.
Langley has three district games this week.
